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Hi Guys,

I just did my first gig with my new built TC-15 and had a couple of questions that some of you may have an answer two.

I'm not a loud guitarist and the gig was a cover gig just general pop stuff (nothing really heavy or loud).

The amp sounds amazing but I struggled with two things:

1. It wasn't very loud, i've gig with a tiny terror and an AC15 and had it much louder volume. Is this how the amp is?

2. I use a tube screamer as a solo boost no matter how much i turn up it's output volume i didn't get an increase of level. Is the input capable of doing this? works on every other amp i've owned.

Any thoughts or possible mods would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Ben

1. The amp should be plenty loud, just as loud if not louder than the amps you mentioned. When the TC-15 is turned up walls and windows should be starting to shake. Something sounds wrong with your amp. Do all voltages check out fine?

2. If the amp is already as loud as it can go adding the Tube Screamer won't increase the volume but rather just dirty up the sound more.

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http://pdfelectronics.com

1. It's not really quiet, it's just not really loud enough for gig volume. I had the volume control set to 10.30 with the master volume out of the signal because it doesn't get much louder from there on just adds more gain. As i said i'm not a loud guitarist all the other band members we're asking me to turn up.... quite unusual! Stephen check all the voltages for me because they were slightly different than in the builders manual. Would it be useful to see them?

2. With the volume at 10.30 i'd be expecting some kind of boost in volume on the front end with a tube screamer.

Do you think i have a problem?

Thanks,
Ben

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

Sounds like you might have a problem.

I was going to plug in to my 15 and check in comparison but forgot. Will try to tonight.

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http://pdfelectronics.com

How did you get on?

Just checked

I get steady increase in volume until about 330 on the volume control. From there forward it's just increased saturation.


Something is wrong with your amp.

_________________
http://pdfelectronics.com

Thanks for checking!

Oh dear.... Any idea what could be wrong? or any information I can provide that might indicate what the problem is?

Thank you!
Ben

Do your voltage check ok?
Is the EF86 channel just as quiet? If it is you know the issue lies in the phase inverter, output section or power supply.

Could be a bad solder/cold joint.

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http://pdfelectronics.com

I spent some time working on the voltages with Stephen, they were different from the ones in the builders manual. He then provided me with a different voltage chart most of them match but some of them were still quite different. I'll test them all again tonight and provide all the reading, perhaps that will reveal the issue.

The EF86 channel is the same.

Is your amp cleanish up to 3.30? because mine is defiantly in crunch territory by 11.00 and the EF86 channel is crunch from 9.00.

Ok, just tested the amp again. New observation is that the EF86 is crunchy from the onset of sound.

So back to the voltages.

V1 pin 1: 1 17
Pin 3: 1.4
Pin 6: 117
Pin 8: 1.4

V2 pin 1: 157
Pin 3: 1.3
Pin 6: 256
Pin 8: 163

V3 pin 1: 241
Pin 3: 72
Pin 6: 246
Pin 8: 72

V4 pin 3: 8
Pin 7: 385

V5 pin 3: 8
Pin 7: 380

V6 pin8: 291

V7 pin 1: 60
Pin 3: 2
Pin 7: 107
Pin 8: 2

The biggest variant to the documentation is of one of the voltages on the board.

see the pics it should read 200v but reads 340v

Going to assume you meant pin 6 there.

That layout/pic is wrong and has not been updated. You will never measure 200V there, 340V is fine. My TC-15 measures the same there.

All your voltages are fine. I'd look for cold solder, bad joints, broken/loose wires in the phase inverter and output section. Could also be a bad pot/cap or something weird.

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http://pdfelectronics.com

Oh yes, pin 6. Sorry.

That's good to know, thanks.

Ok, i'll try re-flowing phase inverter joints and any other suspicious areas and let you know what i find.

Thank you for all you help so far!